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About 500 UAW CAP Conference men and women gathered on Wednesday for a breakfast meeting that celebrated women and reminded everyone why this is a pivotal time. 2018 UAW Community Action Program (CAP) Conference on Wednesday.

UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, the mother of two 14-year-old twins, explained that with the turmoil on Capitol Hill, we must not allow crisis to diminish hope.

“I want what all of us want, to build better, loving and caring communities,” she said. “We need to support your people with courage, the women with courage to stand up and the men who are standing up with them.”

“Us women need you men to support us,” Estrada said.

UAW President Dennis Williams also acknowledged strong women who are stranding up against sexism and discrimination. “It diminishes our solidarity” when women and men disrespect one another.

“I want women to know that for every one person who does you wrong, there are 10 people in the UAW fighting for you and everything that you have.”

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez warned that we need to stay engaged.

“The American people need you,” she told delegates. Nobody knows how to organize and engage like labor does,” she added. And without engagement, the attacks will keep coming.

Linda Sánchez, a card-carrying union member, serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the fifth-highest ranking position in House Democratic Leadership. She is the first Latina elected to a leadership position in the U.S. Congress, and the highest-ranking Latino in the House of Representatives. She also serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.

“They are aware of every dirty trick in the book to lessen and defeat us. It’s about union busting plain and simple,” Sanchez said.

As a bonus for the morning event, UAW Region 9A Director Julie Kushner announced to the group that she is running for a state senate seat in Connecticut and she encouraged other UAW women and men to follow her lead and run for public office.